First of all, let me state that the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
A good e-friend of mine turned me on to Awkward Family Photos, and I'm hooked. I've been looking for a suitable substitute to Mirsky's Worst of the Web since he decided to hang it up back in the mid 90's, and I think I may have found it. This week's installment of I Remember JFK is dedicated to Awkward Family Photos, and I hope you enjoy this rather offbeat presentation.
This is a picture of me, Shirley, and Madonna. These cute girls (and you should have seen them circa 1972! RRROWF!) are pictured with me, my trusty spring horse, and a doll which, unfortunately, didn't interest me, to the girls' chagrin. Note the free standing ashtray, an essential part of any 1960's home.
For the record, Shirley and Madonna had a brother, Rudy, who was an "artist", if you know what I mean. The parents didn't bring him up in conversation much. Oh, and FWIW, Shirley and Madonna turned out to be sisters of Sappho themselves. Those poor parents... ;-)
I remember this day well. We were about to attend a Lutheran church service in Story City, IA. That's where dad's mother ended up after his father died, and it was forever Grandma's town to me. We made yearly pilgrimages up there. It made for some amazingly great memories. And that was one of dad's less-than-three-year-old Plymouth Furies.
SIT!!! That was the command that dad would issue to Frisky, the poodle that I grew up with. Apparent;y, the order was spoken clearly enough that this eight-year-old responded in a suitably prompt manner.
Someone, I don't recall who, taught me to eat spaghetti by deflating my cheeks, causing a vacuum which would cause the semolina to be absorbed into my system at the maximum possible rate. Whoever you were, I owe you a lifetime of culinary gratitude.
This was the fence that separated the, err, Smiths from me. I was told, VERY sternly, by my mom to NEVER cross that fence. And believe you me, I never did!
Ya know, obviously these were some seriously bonzer toys, but the only one I recall was the tool bench. I spent HOURS beating those pegs through, then rotating the device, then repeating.
This is me and Billy Bob Thornton (I will give this hint: his name actually had pretty much the same tempo). This dude had the greatest flattop in the world, until being dethroned by Dennis Quaid, playing Gordon Cooper in The Right Stuff. Being of Norwegian descent, growing one myself was, of course, out of the question, and caused me much envy. Of course, we know that Gordo's own FT was supplanted by that possessed by Gene Kranz in Apollo 13, as every space flick nerd knows. But I digress. Billy Bob was a close associate of mine with (American) Indian blood that made for great hair. I'll bet that wherever he is today, he still has a thick mane.
And I close with this shot of my mom and me on vacation in 1968. I had been begging to visit Florida (blame it on Flipper!, more here). But anyhow, this late-life baby finally got his way. I believe this picture was taken at Rock City, at Chattanooga, TN, a city which would ironically become a vital lifeline for me, career-wise, even though I would never live within 1,500 miles of it. Mom, I know you wouldn't mind me describing this particular shot as a bad hair day, with the appropriate expression included. Of course, the fact that I was heading for the hairstyle that this 50-year-old currently possesses accounts for the fact that my head could completely absorb a waterfall with nary a visible effect.
Comments (9)
Cute pics!
Have you made your trip to FLA yet?
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by Sharon/The Baby Boomer Queen | August 16, 2009 8:26 PM
Posted on August 16, 2009 20:26
Not yet, Sharon. Next month, between hurricanes, I hope ;-)
Posted by Ron Enderland | August 16, 2009 8:44 PM
Posted on August 16, 2009 20:44
Hmmmm.....very interesting pics Ron....thank God the Garden Nomes at Rock City
didn't kidnap you....If I could be reincarnated as anything, it would be a "See Rock City" sign on the side of a barn...
Posted by scott | August 19, 2009 5:41 PM
Posted on August 19, 2009 17:41
The Spring Horse! Yay! I'm only a Gen X-er, but one of those babies survived long enough for me to enjoy in my granma's house. I loved that little guy!
Posted by Chestna | August 25, 2009 6:54 AM
Posted on August 25, 2009 06:54
Ron, this was great. Pictures of the toys in the background are cool. No gameboys or nothing. wow!
A car in the background in 1 pic. Enjoyed seeing some history. I am actually working on a number of pages and pictures for my site which go back to about 1900 and go through to the 70s anyway. I'll let everyone know here when its done. What is cool is the background stuff in mine as well. the culture and history is all there. Take care.
Scott
Posted by Scott Irv | September 1, 2009 10:49 PM
Posted on September 1, 2009 22:49
I have a photo from Xmas 1969 of my younger brother holding his new guitar, my little sister wearing some kind of loud plaid poncho outfit, & me wearing my brand new WHS letter jacket. For some reason, none of us look happy to be there. And no, I'm not going to post it.
Posted by CL1053 KS | September 14, 2009 11:42 PM
Posted on September 14, 2009 23:42
I'm supposed to be working but am hooked on this site and can't get off! I almost fell off my chair when I read your observation about the "free standing ashtray" being an essential part of any 60's home. What a hoot! You are so right. My family and I love to reminisce about those ridiculous times when people gathered around huge ashtrays smoking. We still have a big ceramic ashtray that, believe it or not, has 12 spots for cigarettes! Can you imagine 12 people sitting around an ashtray smoking?! Ha! We use that "gorgeous" avocado green ceramic ashtray now for holding a variety of nuts for snacking when we play Canasta. Too funny!
Posted by Patti | January 19, 2010 7:11 AM
Posted on January 19, 2010 07:11
Ah, Patti:
it sounds like you got the same monkey on your back that I and others here do. Those memories. They really linger and tug at one's heart, no? We wouldn't have it any other way and you know it! Have fun always!
Scott
Posted by Scott Irving | January 19, 2010 3:07 PM
Posted on January 19, 2010 15:07
That goes for me too, Patti. Welcome to the site, and here's hoping it causes you many hours of fun nostalgia!
Posted by Ron | January 19, 2010 4:02 PM
Posted on January 19, 2010 16:02